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Early Learning Council hears state progress report, asks for clearer dashboard and budget links
Summary
State agency presenters showed Raise Up Oregon indicators—covering home visiting, foster care, postpartum care, housing and workforce—but council members pressed for a concise dashboard tied to budgets and source data so the council can track progress and strengthen advocacy.
State agency staff briefed the Early Learning Council on statewide indicators tied to the Raise Up Oregon strategy and on how those measures will be presented in a public report. The presentation, officials said, relied on administrative data available at multiple time points (most recently 2022–2023) and is intended to give the council a high-level, statewide view rather than a detailed regional analysis.
"We are responding to the Early Learning Council's request for data related to progress related to Raise Up Oregon," the presenter (Early Learning and Care staff) said, noting limitations in administrative data and timing lags. Council members pressed staff to pare the material into a “dashboard” with a few key metrics per objective and links to source datasets so members and legislators can drill down.
The briefing highlighted several system-level figures that shaped the discussion: roughly one-third of children under 6 live in households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level; childcare costs for toddlers were cited in the range of $9,000–$18,000 per year; median early childhood educator wages were presented at about $16–$22 per hour; and state data show kindergarten chronic absenteeism near 45% (defined in the presentation as attending 90% or fewer days).
Members repeatedly urged clearer connections between the chosen indicators and the council's priorities, and asked staff to include budget and spending context alongside outcome measures. "If there are things that can be counted, I would try to do it," a council member said, arguing that pairing dollars with outcomes aids accountability. Staff noted the public version will be updated through the end of the calendar year and that more detailed source reports can be provided on request.
The council paused the briefing to continue specific objective-level discussions and to reconvene after a short break.
